ISO: TZA
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The electronic version of this document has been prepared at the Fourth
World Conference on Women by the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP)
in collaboration with the United Nations Fourth World Conference on Women
Secretariat.
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AS WRITTEN
STATEMENT BY HON. ZAKIA HAMDANI MEGHJI
HEAD OF DELEGATION OF THE UNITED REPUBLIC OF TANZANIA
TO THE FOURTH WORLD CONFERENCE ON WOMEN
BEIJING, CHINA 5th SEPTEMBER 1995
Madam President
Excellencies,
Distinguished Colleagues,
Delegates, ladies and gentlemen
Let me begin, like other speakers who have spoken before me, by
congratulating you and members of the bureau on your election to lead
the deliberations of the Fourth World Conference on Women.
Let me also take this opportunity on behalf of my delegation to pledge
our support to you in mating the conference a success. Allow me Madame
President to express my delegation's gratitude for the warm welcome we
received on our arrival and the hospitality we still enjoy from the
great people of this country.
May I also take this opportunity on behalf of my delegation to
congratulate Madam Mongella the Secretary General of this conference and
her team for the excellent preparations.
I would like to assure her that her Tanzanian sisters and brothers are
surely proud of her and we assure her our support and co-operation.
While we celebrate the 50th Anniversary of the UN., we do so with mixed
feelings particularly when we think of reasons behind the formation of
the UN. The major objective for the establishment of the UN is to
promote peace and understanding among nations of the world. A very small
percentage of women have enjoyed peace and understanding 50 years after
the formation of the United Nations.
It is a pity that the will behind the formation of the UN has been
deflected from the expected. Many nations are torn apart by wars and
strife. Violation of human rights is on the increase, and political
uncertainty hangs on the balance for many nations. Killings en mass in
some countries is the order of the day and in all occurrences of war and
strife - women and children are the hardest hit. Women and children in
many parts of the world have cried for the beloved they lost, women and
children in many parts of the world are left as widows and orphans
respectively. We, women of the world assembled here today are also
struggling for peace and we are fighting for equality and development of
nations.
Many governments spend funds which could have been used for development
for waging wars. The amounts spent could be spent in uplifting the
quality of life for women and children in poverty stricken areas as well
as in areas where ethnicity and religion have caused misunderstanding.
Madam President, while we gather today at this 4th World Conference on
Women, we should recall where we came from. Indeed we have come a long
way from when women were considered as second best to a position where
we now assemble as women of the world standing for our equal rights in
unison. Statistics available still show that in many nations equality
has not yet been achieved in all levels of government machinery though
it is true that in some nations, women representation in leadership
positions in different sectors have fared well, to the majority of the
nations there is still a long way to go.
Globally, women constitute less than 20% of parliamentarians. In many
countries, women ministers are the minority in their governments. Having
few women in decision-making positions leads to women issues being put
at the lower end of the agenda, thus many times, women developmental
issues are marginalised.
Madam President, education is a tool for liberation. Unfortunately, to
the majority and particularly in the developing world, access to
education and particularly to higher levels and training is a luxury.
Traditions, norms and values to a large extent have been a major
obstacle to women development. We as women have battled for many years
against harmful practices which have affected our rights and many times
our health. We have to congratulate ourselves that our being here is a
symbol of the hard struggle of our predecessors who fought relentlessly
to overcome traditions which barred them from participating in global
issues for the advancement of women. Although we are here, we should not
be too complacent of the success we have made because we still have a
long way to go. We have to continue urging our governments to increase
their commitment in uplifting the status of women. The advancement of
the status of women status can be realised through deliberate efforts by
our governments and the international community addressing the issue of
equality at all levels and in all spheres of life.
Madam President statistics in Tanzania show that some changes have taken
place where women development is concerned. The number of girls and
women enrolled in education have significantly increased, compared to
the figures in 1985. The number of girls enrolled in secondary schools
increased from 41% of the total in 1988 to 44 by the year 1993. Also
enrolment in teachers' training colleges increased from 42 percent in
1988 to 50% in 1993. Although these are significant changes, we note
with concern the decline in the quality of education provided as a
result of the economic decline taking place in our countries. Many
schools and colleges particularly in the developing world have fewer
learning and teaching materials compared to ten years ago. While we
might be satisfied with the efforts of our government and NGOs, we have
a challenge of finding out ways of improving chances for the girl child
as well as improving the school environment.
Madam President, an improvement has also been made in health since 1985.
Demographic survey show that about 90% of pregnant women attended Ante-
natal clinics at least once, and about 60% of all deliveries in the
rural areas take place with trained workers in attendance. Services also
offered to women and children have increased and are varied in nature.
Currently, about 2000 health units out of 3,056 provide family planning
services. Out of the remaining health units, 600 run mother and child
health services but do not provide family planning services. A lot of
effort is still needed in order to increase the use of Family Planning
services. Greater effort is also needed to reduce the occurrence of
water borne diseases by providing clean and safe water near the
community.
Madam Presidents the basic issues which need serious concern have been
clearly indicated in our platform for action to the year 2000. What is
required now is to put efforts on how to address the basic issues which
could act as a catalyst to the implementation of the areas of concern
which are: poverty alleviation, attaining legal rights, participation in
decision making, women and environment, women and employment, and
alienating harmful practices and norms. In attaining these goals
awareness raising through education is a basic pre-requisite.
Government policies have clearly stated the government commitment in
uplifting the status of women. Given the seriousness of these issues,
the government of the United Republic of Tanzania commits itself to
achieve the following: -
I. Education:
Presently the enrolment rates have fallen sharply. In 1990 of those of
the school going age only 78% were enrolled. The drop-out rate among
pupils is now extremely high. In 1986/87 only 52% of those who sat for
standard IV examinations proceeded to standard V and only 15% of
candidates who sat for standard VII examinations were selected to Form
I. The peak of 90% literacy rate reached in 1984 has decreased and is
estimated to be between 70% and 80%.
Commitment:
- Increase the enrolment in pre-school from under 2% to 50% by the year
2000
- Increase enrolment rate in primary schools from 78% to 100 by the year
2000- Increase the completion of primary schools to 80% by the year 2000
- Reduce illiteracy rate by 50%
- Eliminate gender disparities in the education system.
II. Enhancing Women Legal Capacity:
Commitment:
- To have all the discriminative laws revised and positive ones enacted
and implemented by the year 2000
- 30% of women to have knowledge about their rights, and the ability to
attain them by the year 2000.
III. Economic Empowerment:
- 30% of women to have access to credit by year 2000 by establishment of
local Development Funds through community efforts. Encouraging friendly
donors to provide credit component for women in all projects undertaken
in the community.
IV. Participation of Women in Decision-making
Commitment:
- To increase the number of women participants in politics and decision-
making to 30% by the year 2000.
Already local government laws have been revised and as from 1994, 25% of
councillors in the local government are women, and not less than 15% of
parliamentarians will be women, as from November this year.
V. Women Environment and Sustainable Development:
Women do not own land thus cannot control household sources of energy.
Commitment:
- 90% of women to own wood plots around the homesteads by the year 2000.
VI. Health:
Commitment:
- To control waterborne diseases and reduce distances covered by women
in search of water. The government commits itself that by the year 2002
each household should get safe and clean water within 400 meters
- To reduce maternal deaths the government commits itself to reducing
the distances of referral services.
- To promote child survival, the government commits itself to continue
monitoring the sustainability of objectives set for the l990s up to the
year 2000.
Madam President, charity begins at home. The government of the United
Republic of Tanzania commits itself to pursue the implementation of the
national platform for action in relation to the global platform for
action by providing new and additional human and financial resource.
We equally call on the international community to commit itself to
making available new and additional financial resources for effective
and meaningful implementation of the Global Platform for Action.
Madam President, I thank you.